12:00-01

NOON-HEADLINES

TALENT=Melanie
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Mass deaths in Southern California may be tied to a belief in Space aliens.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie


And a Nationally known company is opening up a plant in Pittsylvania County.

(/////////////)
TALENT=Patrick
SS=None


Picture perfect weather today, and more warm temperatures coming up for the rest of the week. I'll have details on some impending showers, as well as some top NFL draft hopefuls.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE


Don't go away, the News is next.

website


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none


More bizzarre revelations in the wake of the apparent mass suicide in southern California.
The 39 deaths may be tied to the Hale- Bopp Comet.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Rancho Santa Fe, CA;


The bodies of the men and women were found yesterday in a rented million dollar mansion near San Diego.
Officials believe they were all members of a cult known as the Higher Source.
They apparently ran a thriving business designing computer web pages.
(----------------)



mass-suicide


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none


A former member of the group is reported as saying the group recently sent out videotapes announcing plans to die so its members could redezvous with an alien spacecraft that was trailing the comet.
Authorities are calling this the biggest Mass suicide this century.
Jennifer Sabih joins us with the latest. ************take from NEWSPATH****
SUPER=01-Jennifer Sabih/Reporting;
SUPER=05-Rancho Santa Fe, CA;
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Rancho Santa Fe, CA;
SUPER=01-Alan Fulmer/San Diego Co. Sheriff's Dept.;
SUPER=01-Tom Goodspeed/San Diego Polo Club;
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=FOR CBS NEWS.
SUPER=05-Rancho Santa Fe, CA;


((
IT WAS "MID-MORNING" BEFORE AUTHORITIES BEGAN REMOVING THE BODIES TO A MORGUE... ONE AT A TIME... MORE THAN THREE DOZEN TOTAL.

SOT: 22:26:17:00/ Sheriff Cmdr. Alan Fulmer/San Diego County
(PARAPHRASE) "WE CAN CONFIRM 39 DIED. EARLIER WE SAID ALL WERE MEN. WE NOW

KNOW THAT SOME OF THE VICTIMS WERE WOMEN."
ALL ARE BELIEVED TO BE YOUNG.... MANY BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 24... DRESSED SIMILARLY IN DARK PANTS AND SHOES...WITH SHORT, "BUZZ" CUTS... LYING ON THEIR BACKS WITH THEIR ARMS AT THEIR SIDES... AND PARTIALLY COVERED IN CLOTH.

SOT: 22:26:47:00
(PARAPHRASE) "THEY HAD PURPLE SHROUDS ON -- COVERING THEIR FACES TO THEIR

CHESTS."
IT WAS AN ANONYMOUS TIP ... THAT CALLED ATTENTION TO THE MANSION IN THE EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF RANCHO SANTE FE-- NORTH OF SAN DIEGO.

SOT: Sheriff Cmdr. Alan Fulmer/San Diego County

"HE NOTICED THAT THE HOUSE APPEARED TO BE COMPLETELY SECURED. ALL THE BLINDS, WINDOWS, DOORS WERE ALL CLOSED."
ONE DOOR HOWEVER WAS LEFT UNLOCKED. INSIDE A DEPUTY FOUND THE FIRST OF THE BODIES... AND THE UNFORGETTABLE ODOR OF DECAY AND DEATH.

(NAT--AERIAL--THEN GRAPHIC OF WEB PAGE-- ON UTTM BAR-CODED TAPES)


THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HOME WERE APPARENTLY EMPLOYEES OF THE WEB-PAGE DESIGNING COMPANY "HIGHER SOURCE."
(EXTRA B-ROLL FOLLOWS INTV.)

THEY APPROACHED TOM GOODSPEED ABOUT DOING SOME WORK FOR HIS SAN DIEGO POLO CLUB.

SOT: 03:48:18:19
LowerThird.C2I=Goodspeed (Tom Goodspeed&1/4SAN DIEGO POLO CLUB)

"UH. REALLY NICE GUYS AND WOMEN. WE HAD BOTH MEN AND WOMEN IN AGE GROUPS OF LATE TWENTIES TO MID-FORTIES. SIMILAR LOOK-- BUZZ CUTS AND SIMILAR CLOTHING BUT REALLY NICE PEOPLE AND VERY TALENTED."

(SABIH STANDUP CLOSE, WHILE NO ONE KNOWS WHY THESE PEOPLE KILLED THEMSELVES, A

FORMER MEMBER OF THE GROUP REPORTEDLY SAYS HE RECEIVED A FAREWELL VIDEOTAPE INDICATING THE SUICIDE WAS PLANNED, THAT MEMBERS FELT IT WAS TIME TO SHED THEIR CONTAINERS AND RENDEVOUS WITH A UFO THEY BELIEVED WAS COMING IN BEHIND THE HALE-BOPP COMET. JENNIFER SABIH, FOR CBS NEWS, RANCHO SANTA FE.))


E-Airborne-Crash


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=spr
TAPE#97-8
GRAPHIC=Plane Crash Investigation


It may be months before the National Transportation Safety Board releases the cause of a deadly plane crash in Giles County last December.
But yesterday it revealed some insight.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Through computer animation, the N-T-S-B recreated the flight path of the Airborne Express D-C 8.
It's clear the plane went through a number of twists and turns before nosediving into East River Mountain near Narrows.
SUPER=03-Giles Co./December;


According to a 300- page report, the crew was testing how the plane handled during a stall when it went down.
A few days after the crash, investigators all but ruled- out weather and maintenance as potential reasons for the accident.
Six people died in the crash.
(----------------)



E-Aris


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=THa
TAPE#97-17
GRAPHIC=New Jobs


Pittsylvania County's newest resident will bring with it the possibility of hundreds of jobs.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;
Aris Isotoner is moving into the East Bowles Distribution Center on Route 29

in Blairs.
The company makes gloves and slippers-- under the names Aris, Isotoner and

"Hanes Her Way".
Initially it's expected 100-people will be hired, but during peak season the company plans to employ an additional 400-workers.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I think

((ALLAN LIBBY/DANVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRES.: I THINK IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE LABOR FORCE THAT'S HERE. IN JUST, IN SPEAKING WITH SOME COLLEAGUES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I JUST THINK THERE'S A SENSE OF ENTHUSIASM IN A SENSE THAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND I THINK THAT SUCCESS CAN BREED SUCCESS. ))
SUPER=01-Allan Libby/Danville Chamber of Commerce; :00
RUNS=:19
OUT Q=breed success.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
The new Aris Isotoner facility will consolidate the distribution centers in

Wisconsin and Greensboro, North Carolina.
(----------------)



E-Kroger


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#97-15
GRAPHIC=Kroger


Workers at a Kroger distribution center are feeling a bit more secure today about their jobs.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Friday;


The Roanoke County warehouse is expanding.
Meantime, another one in West Virginia is closing.
Union rules say the affected West Virginia employees get the first shot at the new jobs.
SUPER=@File;


Plus, if there are still people without work, they can replace the CURRENT workers in Roanoke County.
It appears that scenario won't happen, though.
Kroger has already received most of its transfer requests, and there are not enough to cause layoffs.
(-------------)


McVeigh


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=mcveigh


Attorneys for Oklahoma City bombing suspect Timothy McVeigh are again asking for a delay in his trial.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


This time they say they want to appeal a judge's ruling allowing victim witnesses to attend the trial.
No word on when the appeals court will rule on the motion,
The trial is set to start Monday with jury selection.
(----------------)



KING-ASSASSIN


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=none


The son of Martin Luther King Junior met this morning with his father's convicted killer.
James Earl Ray confessed to the crime in 19-68 and has since recanted and is seeking a trial to prove he did not do it.
The King family also wants a new trial.
Ray is now dying of liver cancer.
Dexter King asked him for the record if he killed his father.
Ray responded no.

Skywriter


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#????
GRAPHIC=NONE


There's 56-million dollars in the sky above Roanoke.
(----------------)

Take LIVE video
VO-NAT
SUPER=05-Roanoke;


Here's a live picture of the Virginia Lottery's reminder about tomorrow's Big Game drawing.
Lottery officials hired an outfit from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to advertise the amount of the tomorrow's drawing.
Jim Butler of Aerial Signs is one of the few remaining pilots who know how to do skywriting.
He'll be zooming over Richmond later today as well.
(----------------)



MAMMOGRAMS


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=net
TAPE#597-10 and 597-11
GRAPHIC=women's health


The government is hoping to resolve the controversy over mammograms.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


The National Cancer Advisory board said today it's now recommending that women in their 40's get yearly mammograms.
That contradicts a January report from another government panel, the National Cancer Institute, that said testing should be up to the individual woman.
Doctors, lawmakers and the privately-funded American Cancer Society attacked the report, saying yearly checkups will lead to early detection and save lives.
(----------------)


P-Cancer-Risk


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=cst
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=cancer


A study in today's New England Journal of Medicine says bone marrow transplants intended to cure cancer can in some cases CAUSE cancer years later.
The research by the National Cancer Institute says the reason appears to be the high doses of radiation that are necessary with the procedure.

p-bone-marrow


ANCHOR=noon
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=afr
TAPE#597-17
GRAPHIC=none


Until more is discovered and understood with those findings however, the Marrow Donor Center of the Virginias continues its mission to boost the bone marrow registry.
25-people die every day, unable to find a match for a bone marrow transplant.
Melissa Tickle received life-saving treatment five years ago.
Yesterday, she met her donor for the second time.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem;


A match is not easy to find.
The National Marrow Donor Program had to go all the way to England to find Jim (Lie-dull) Lydle.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT7:33:49
IN Q=

((JIM LYDLE/BONE MARROW DONOR: VERY PROUD TO DO SUCH A THING, NOT MUCH I CAN DO IN THE WORLD, BUT I SEEM TO HAVE ACHIEVED SOME SUCCESS.))
SUPER=01-Jim Lydle/Bone Marrow Donor;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=SOME SUCCESS.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Tickle says the success would be greater, but she believes people are afraid to participate in a donor drive.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 7:32:37
IN Q=

((MELISSA TICKLE/THE WORST THING YOU COULD DO IS SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE ))
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=someone's life
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Daytona Beach, FL/February;


The marrow donation program got some much-needed publicity in November.
That's when it was discovered NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick has Leukemia.
The racing community rallied behind the cause.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT6:31:57
IN Q=A TYPICAL

((STEVE LOVELACE/MARROW DONOR CENTER: A TYPICAL SUNDAY, WE GET 40-60 CALLS, THE DAY AFTER DAYTONA, WE GOT ABOUT 17 THOUSAND.))
SUPER=01-Steve Lovelace/Bone Marrow Donor Center;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=Thousand
(----------------)
VO-NAT


You can find out more about becoming a donor by calling 1-800-M-A-R-R-O-W-two.
(----------------)



Autumn-Lane


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#97-
GRAPHIC=none


A Roanoke developer is going to court for allegedly violating city erosion and sediment control ordinances.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


City officials say this is the second time Phillip Bane has been taken to court for his 11- home construction project.
The city filed criminal charges against Bane on Tuesday for failing to bring the site up to code.
Residents of Autumn Lane have said they fear for their safety.
(----------------)
TALENT=MELANIE
SS=none


Bane will appear in court April third.

E-Forest-Robbery


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-7
GRAPHIC=NONE


The search continues for the man who robbed a convenience store on Route 2-21 yesterday.
Bedford County authorities are hoping the pulic can help.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.


The suspect entered the Quik-E food store in Forest around 1:45 yesterday morning.
Acting like he had a weapon in his pocket, the white male ordered the cashier to hand over the money in the register.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 2:45:35
IN Q=All right this

((ALL RIGHT THIS IS A HOLDUP. GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY IN THE REGISTER RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW! RIGHT NOW OR I'LL SHOOT ALL OF YOU, RIGHT NOW! GIVE ME THE MONEY IN THE REGISTER RIGHT NOW!))
SUPER=04-Surveillance Camera Video; :00
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=in the register, right now! (5th "right now")
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Police hope someone will recognize the robber's clothes or voice and give them a call.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 2:49:27
IN Q=We're hoping that

((LT. JOHN MCCANE/BEDFORD CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: WE'RE HOPING THAT ANYONE WHO VIEWS THE VIDEO MAY BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE HIS VOICE OR CLOTHING, IF SO, GIVE US A CALL AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU, 586-7714.))
SUPER=01-John McCane/Bedford Co. Sheriff's Dept.; :00
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=586-7714.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


McCane says the suspect apparently had a getaway car sitting in a nearby industrial park.
(----------------)



Long


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=tal
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=legal scales


A D-U-I charge is dismissed- at least for now- against former Radford firefighter Tommy Long.
Long was charged with driving under the influence of drugs after he ran a fire truck into a parked police car.
Blood tests revealed what a state toxicologist desbribed as an abnormally high level of a prescription medicine.
A second blood test was conducted at the Medical College of Virginia.
But special prosecutor Gino Williams says the lab can NOT find the results.
Williams expects to reinstate the charge if and when the results turn up.

p-Cruz


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#97-9
GRAPHIC=Pamela Cruz


For the first time in six years, the ex-wife of drug-informant Javier Cruz was in court yesterday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke


Pamela Cruz has been out on bond since she was first arrested and charged in the sweeping drug indictment involving her husband and Leo Rivera.
She's charged- -along with several other lesser players- -in two counts of conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold


The 38- year- old North Carolina resident pleaded NOT guilty yesterday. She faces a minimum 10-year sentence on each count if she's convicted.

p-Apgar


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=spr
TAPE#97-10
GRAPHIC=Jonathan Apgar


The Roanoke Valley's legal community welcomes its newest member on the bench.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem;


Jonathan Apgar was sworn yesterday at the Roanoke County Courthouse, but he preside in Roanoke City.
He replaces Judge G. O. Clemens who retired from the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia in December.
Apgar is a former assistant public defender and chief assistant commonwealth's attorney.
He's been in private practice since 19-81.
(----------------)



P-Internet-Paper


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=abr
TAPE#597-13
GRAPHIC=Internet


Stop the presses -- or should we say the modem. There's a new Martinsville newspaper that's covering ground on the Information Superhighway.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Martinsville;


The Martinsville Post can only be found on the World Wide Web.
Suzanne Albanese works at a local credit office--
During her lunch hour, she becomes a reporter, photographer and editor.
She uses a digital camera to cover stories and also makes sales calls.
The newspaper is put together each night on her computer.
Feedback from this "local" paper has come from as far away as Hawaii.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:02:04
IN Q=That was really

((SUZANNE ALBANESE/MARTINSVILLE POST: AND THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING, HE WAS FROM THIS AREA ORIGINALLY AND HE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT SUBSCRIBING TO THE LOCAL PAPER BUT THIS IS GREAT BECAUSE HE'S A REAL COMPUTER ENTHUSIAST AND HE CAN SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HIS OLD HOME TOWN.))
SUPER=01-Suzanne Albanese/Martinsville Post;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=old home town
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Albanese is thrilled with her hobby but hopes to one day turn it into a business. DISSOLVE TO PINNACLE
You can read the Martinsville Post on the World Wide Web at W- W- W- dot-Martinsvillepost-dot-com.
(----------------)



E-Pet-pig


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=abo
TAPE#97-18
GRAPHIC=none


It's not your typically household pet, but a family in Roanoke is hoping it can keep its animal.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;


Pat Earles says her son Chuck worked hard last year for something he really wanted.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 3:29:39
IN Q=He had asked

((PAT EARLES: HE HAD ASKED FOR A POT-BELLIED PIG, AND WE TOLD HIM IF HE DID WELL IN SCHOOL WE WOULD SEE ABOUT IT- HE DID WELL IN SCHOOL, AND FOR HIM THAT'S A STRUGGLE- AND SO WE GOT HIM THE POT-BELLIED PIG.))
SUPER=07-Pat Earles;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=pot-bellied pig.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Now the family has found out that owning a pig violates a city ordinance- and City Council's told them their pet must go.
Earle says she's hired a lawyer and plans to fight.
Her son says the pig is no different than any other pet.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 3:32:57
IN Q=Yeah, he's about

((YEAH, HE'S ABOUT THE SAME AS A DOG- HE ACTS LIKE A DOG.))
SUPER=07-Chuck Whately
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=acts like a dog.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The family wants the City Council to amend the ordinance, allowing for residents to own one small pig as a pet.
(----------------)

WEATHER
SUPER=300-64/28/SW 9mph/30.09f/81/1950/18/1955;
SUPER=301-63/25/Var 7mph/30.09f/85/1921/18/1955;

Forecasts
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Mostly/Clear/40-44/Increasing/Clouds/66-70;
SUPER=331-Mostly/Clear/42-46/Increasing/Clouds/68-72;
SUPER=332-Mostly/Clear/40-44/Increasing Clouds/& Showers/66-70;
SUPER=333-Mostly/Clear/38-42/Increasing/Clouds/62-66;
SUPER=334-Partly/Cloudy/40-44/Cloudy/Scattered Showers/66-70;
SUPER=X5001;


Rail-Merger


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=rail merger


Norfolk Southern may end up with the lion's share of Conrail's northeast rail system.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


The Wall Street Journal reports the joint takeover plan by Norfolk Southern and C-S-X has N-S getting 57- PERCENT of Conrail's routes.
N-S will reportedly shell out SIX- BILLION- DOLLARS for its portion.
The two Virginia railroads agreed earlier this month to drop their competing bids for Conrail in favor of a negotiated breakup.
Terms of the latest deal are expected to be announced within a week.
(-------------)


Bradley


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=BB97-4
GRAPHIC=Ron Bradley


Radford University men's basketball team may soon be looking for a new face to head the Highlander program. Sources informed News 7 Sports last night that Ron Bradley interviewed for the coaching job at Indiana State University yesterday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Radford; :00


Radford sources say Bradley met with Indiana State athletic Director Larry Gallo yesterday about the job Sherman Dillard vacated to take the J-M-U post. Dillard and Bradley both coached under Lefty Driesell at Maryland and are said to be good friends.
Bradley was also interviewed for the Richmond job last Thursday. The Highlanders were 15 and 13 this past season and were knocked out of the Big South Tournament in the semi finals.
(-------------)


Tiki


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of VF96-2)
GRAPHIC=NFL DRAFT 97


The 19-97 N-F-L draft is set for April 19th, and as many as 10 players from U-V-a and Virginia Tech may end up getting selected.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00


One of those players who is certain to be picked early in the selection process is Tiki Barber, who was in Lynchburg yesterday speaking to the Sports Capital luncheon at Oakwood Country Club.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="I;m expecting...

((TIKI BARBER/UVA'S ALL-TIME RUSHING LEADER:))
SUPER=01-Tiki Barber/UVa's All-Time Rushing Leader; :00
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=...TOO MUCH."
(----------------)
VO-NAT CON'T
SUPER=03-Charlottesville/Last Fall;


Tiki and brother Ronde have been working out in Charlottesville along with several of their Cavalier teammates every other week for N-F-L scouts.
(----------------)



Druck


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of TF96-2)
GRAPHIC=NFL DRAFT 97


One of Tiki's former rivals, one time Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller is anxious about the upcoming draft.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=04-NCAA; :00


But with Peyton Manning deciding to stay put in Tennessee for another year, Druckenmiller's stock is climbing quickly.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="Sunday afternoon...

((JIM DRUCKENMILLER/37 CAREER TD PASSES AT TECH:))
SUPER=01-Jim Druckenmiller/37 Career TD Passes at Tech; :00
RUNS=:23

(-------------) OUT Q=...FOR ME."
by SS